Did I Ever Tell You About the...

awesome hot pink/rusty bike that Bailey found in the ditch by the Dart line? No, well one day last summer, Bailey was lamenting the fact that we had not bought her a bike yet. We prayed about it and talked about how we wanted to be good stewards of the things God gives us. We were hunting for blackberries near the Dart tracks (don't worry, large fence with spiky things at the top prevents us from reaching the best blackberries and getting killed by the train) and found a ditch that people throw trash into and also have campfires. Really. We looked down and saw a child's size bike that was in fairly good condition considering its predicament. Yeah God! I went home and made asked Scott to fetch it. Bailey was super excited! We put up flyers in the Dart station to make sure no one was missing it. After a couple of weeks we decided it was all hers.

C-razy people.

Flash forward to two Sunday nights ago and here comes Hyejin baring an awesome, new silver bike that she can't take back to Korea which she proceeds to give to Bailey. Awesome! Hyejin also had a 3/4 size guitar for Davis. Double awesome! Hyejin is a precious friend that we so enjoyed getting to know while she was here taking English classes. She flew back to South Korea last week to join her family and Jinhwan where she will finish her university degree. We will miss her so much! Thank you Hyejin for all your kindnesses. God bless you!

p.s. There was no wind that night on Howth. I couldn't believe it. The wind is usually very strong especially on the hill. If the weather was like that all the time, then I wouldn't have anything to complain about taking
the 'hill walk' around Howth.

Spring Take Two

Yesterday rain, cold, wind. Today warm wind, warm temperature, bright sun. It must be Jo's fault. She is working on her tan in a softball blitz today filling in for Juli who is in County Mayo. Bailey spent all day with Annette and Annette's grandchildren, Davis helped paint Karolina's Clubhouse/glorified shed, Scott is in County Clare playing baseball, and I went to quilt guild, came home and sewed three pillowcase dresses.  It's been a good day.

JO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bailey measuring how tall she has gotten.

After some extra time in immigration Jo made it to Dublin! We are so happy! Please pray for her family and her acclimation to Dublin. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace out.

Last night we started what we hope will become a weekly tradition of Friday night dinner and board games with our neighbors and the friends we have made through our conversational English classes. The Smiths, Hutsons, Robert, Angela, Izzy, 2 of Scott's students and our friendly Lidl cashier Justina came. Scott invited Justina just yesterday afternoon when he was purchasing 2 card tables. She has never seen us in Lidl at the same time but when she came in our house she said, 'I knew it was you!' How, the accent? 'No, because you both have such a peaceful look on your face. Peace on the inside. Everyone else comes in with a frown or they are tired, but you are smiling and happy.' I'm not a huge public crier but when she said that, I was touched to know that God is working through me even when I am frantic to get all my groceries in my trolley before I have to punch my PIN into the machine. 'Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.' 2 Thessalonians 3:16a

After dinner and dessert some of us played Apples to Apples, some played Scrabble (Thanks Angela for beating Scott!) and  Uncle Craig wrangled the 4 little girls for us. Good times.

The New International Version (Sunday night worship edition)

We had several birth countries represented this past Sunday evening in our home for worship time. Out of 18 people the countries were: America, Ireland, Indonesia, Hungary, South Korea,Papua New Guinea and Texas. It was really neat to hear the Word read aloud in so many different accents.

Legal

Thanks to the fine folks at the Department of Finance and Administration, I have in my possession a new Arkansas driver's license only 24 days after mine officially expired. Did I look at that expiration date before we left for Ireland? No. Did I slightly panic in March when I realized it was this year? Yes. Was the woman at the aforementioned state office kind enough to give me all the information over the phone? Yes. They even sent back my original birth certificate and marriage license! Will I be posting my dreadful, 7-year-old picture on this blog? Not on your life. Do I feel better now? You betcha.